tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post7397505460169694884..comments2023-10-15T03:31:24.587-04:00Comments on MountainMama: The Art Of Stretching The Grocery Budget Debbie - Mountain Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18401931842031353732noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-56631692039154480722019-11-20T10:38:29.149-05:002019-11-20T10:38:29.149-05:00Oh that's rough, Marilyn - that's wayyyyy ...Oh that's rough, Marilyn - that's wayyyyy too early for snow! I was upset bringing in all my wonderful herbs....I so miss having fresh herbs right outside my kitchen door for cooking. So far they are holding up well in the water, however...and I added basil to the mix yesterday. I'm praying some of them will take root so I can plant them in pots!Debbie - MountainMamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679232688811134752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-62244745826255868692019-11-18T21:58:52.024-05:002019-11-18T21:58:52.024-05:00Oh bless your heart... stacking that wood, there i...Oh bless your heart... stacking that wood, there is no job that seems more exhausting that wood. I know and remember it all too well! Good workout for sure. Your garden was super productive this year, such a good feeling to stock away all that food! It just pained me too to see my beautiful garden really just begin producing in September, and our first snow on the 28th of September. Such is the cycle here though. I too enjoy cooking a large amount of meat at one time, and then reusing it through the week, or freezing for future meals. Cook once, eat twice is my motto, lol. We don't have an Aldi's here. I would love to have one to shop at though. Have a great week :) Marilyn @ MountainTopSpicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00600290895531484438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-54824651094381633702019-11-18T14:29:32.463-05:002019-11-18T14:29:32.463-05:00I've heard about that paper bag method, Heidi,...I've heard about that paper bag method, Heidi, but have never tried it. We usually just lay them out on our windowsills until they ripen....it works pretty well! We're still eating tomatoes from the garden even though we've had snow three times already - that's pretty good! I sure will miss them when they're gone!Debbie - MountainMamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679232688811134752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-44365087913845092802019-11-18T14:28:14.105-05:002019-11-18T14:28:14.105-05:00Pin away, Donna!! I'm honestly worn out at the...Pin away, Donna!! I'm honestly worn out at the end of a season in the garden, and glad for a bit of a break. Of course there's always other things to be done....winter weekends find me catching up on some chores I only do once a year. This past weekend I took all the bottles off the bar, polished the bar, and wiped down all the bottles. That won't get done again until next winter!!Debbie - MountainMamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679232688811134752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-25016239141782992322019-11-18T14:25:54.570-05:002019-11-18T14:25:54.570-05:00Thank you, Nancy!!
I ran out of thyme the other ...Thank you, Nancy!! <br /><br />I ran out of thyme the other day (recipe called for dried thyme) and used some of the thyme that was drying on the coat rack - it's not dry enough to jar yet, but it did the trick! Debbie - MountainMamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679232688811134752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-21533558225039292192019-11-16T11:10:34.499-05:002019-11-16T11:10:34.499-05:00We hate to throw food away too, and we stretch it ...We hate to throw food away too, and we stretch it as far as we can, but you have us beat. It really takes talent, creativity, and organization to do what you do. Those meals all look delicious. I love your cut herbs on the window, what a great idea! My Mom did something surprising with her tomatoes that worked well for her: I usually just bring in my green tomatoes at the end of the season and put them in a bag with an apple to ripen. But she had lots of clusters of green sweet millions, so she cut off the whole vines with the clusters on them and just laid them flat, with paper towels under them, on those plastic nursery flats and put them in her sunroom by the window. And they ALL ripened! She did this weeks ago and is still eating rip and yummy sweet millions. My paper bag method was, well, hit and miss :-) Heidi | Mysweetcottage.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08595431684792707850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-2641719387534463002019-11-16T09:11:10.181-05:002019-11-16T09:11:10.181-05:00The votes are all in and you have been selected as...The votes are all in and you have been selected as Superwoman! Seriously, I am most impressed with all that you do and how well you do it. Even in my younger days I wasn't this energetic. You are truly blessed, my friend. Isn't fresh produce the most beautiful thing? Your recipes are "pinnable". Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10328333345401673320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-26142343754903561992019-11-15T21:36:26.107-05:002019-11-15T21:36:26.107-05:00Happy belated anniversary! The produce on your co...Happy belated anniversary! The produce on your counter and also the herbs on your cupboard make such pretty pictures. I love to see herbs hanging. I also do a lot of shopping at Aldi's. Nancy Cozy Thyme Cottagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933769393226611441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-90357443265927337092019-11-15T16:39:33.821-05:002019-11-15T16:39:33.821-05:00Hardly!! I do what I can but I feel pretty tired ...Hardly!! I do what I can but I feel pretty tired at the end of the season....I'm ready for that long winter's rest they speak of! Debbie - MountainMamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679232688811134752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-73581048280545695222019-11-15T16:38:26.432-05:002019-11-15T16:38:26.432-05:00It wasn't fun Karen Ann, and I was dreading it...It wasn't fun Karen Ann, and I was dreading it but it always feels so good when it's done and I have a good supply of wood to get me through the next couple of months. I'll need another cord at some point....sigh I'm already dreading it. I make it less awful by listening to an audio book while I stack...makes the monotony of the chore more tolerable. Debbie - MountainMamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679232688811134752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-45572803159051281632019-11-15T13:57:02.627-05:002019-11-15T13:57:02.627-05:00I am so impressed with your cooking and gardening ...I am so impressed with your cooking and gardening talents. I'm also in awe of your energy -<br />full time job, a sweetie, the pups, the house, the garden, the kids, the birds, the bears and the blog!! You are truly superwoman!!Kim https://www.blogger.com/profile/15445291034631735026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-83814082706711977802019-11-15T12:02:56.109-05:002019-11-15T12:02:56.109-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Debbie - MountainMamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679232688811134752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-17868780089715292302019-11-15T09:10:01.722-05:002019-11-15T09:10:01.722-05:00I am thoroughly impressed by your ability to stack... I am thoroughly impressed by your ability to stack all that wood, and even more so.. .keep your grocery bill down that low and yet have so much delish in the freezer! That's a lot of work! Karen thisoldhouse2.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03302171590212119499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-76907370708457618562019-11-14T13:54:00.406-05:002019-11-14T13:54:00.406-05:00I've been pulling stuff out of the freezer all...I've been pulling stuff out of the freezer all week for our dinner and my lunches and it's kind of boring, Lorraine! I enjoy the art of cooking, but I guess there's no harm in taking a break every now and again. Honestly when it's just me I eat something simple....but most nights Sweetie comes over for dinner, so it gives me a good excuse to be creative. Today it's a batch of bean & bacon soup, which I put in the slow cooker before I left for work. Plus some home made cornbread, which I pulled out of the freezer this morning. Yummmmm!!Debbie - MountainMamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679232688811134752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-24952710852056158842019-11-14T13:51:40.330-05:002019-11-14T13:51:40.330-05:00I sometimes have to make a second stop on the way ...I sometimes have to make a second stop on the way home if I can't get everything on my list in Aldi, but I'll always try there first. I pass a Price Chopper on my way back up the mountain, and there's always my local market too....but prices are higher there, as it's the only one on the mountain top. Debbie - MountainMamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679232688811134752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-89954843413736760442019-11-14T13:49:48.631-05:002019-11-14T13:49:48.631-05:00My hands are still sore from all the stacking!!!My hands are still sore from all the stacking!!!Debbie - MountainMamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679232688811134752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-8682445707977070912019-11-14T13:49:33.518-05:002019-11-14T13:49:33.518-05:00Last year I started the first seeds on Valentine&#...Last year I started the first seeds on Valentine's Day, Debbi - this year I will start them maybe two weeks earlier. So my 'break' from gardening isn't very long, is it? Once the holidays are over I start planning my seed starting, but until then I'll enjoy a bit of a break!Debbie - MountainMamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679232688811134752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-71228330719183516252019-11-14T11:22:32.575-05:002019-11-14T11:22:32.575-05:00Oh my, what an inspiration you are. I also shop Al...Oh my, what an inspiration you are. I also shop Aldi for certain things, they have great prices. I'm trying to get 'back into' cooking/baking/freezing so that I can just pull things out of the freezer, instead of figuring out what to fix which can get depressing for just one person. I've tried growing tomatoes and pepper here, but critters enjoy taking a bite out of them and leaving the rest on the ground. There is a veggie market near me that has very good prices. You are one busy lady and I would like some of your energy. Happy holiday season. ~ FlowerLadyFlowerLady Lorrainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17678852154334714784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-44389146517750309902019-11-13T21:18:46.827-05:002019-11-13T21:18:46.827-05:00I am lucky I live in an area with so many differen...I am lucky I live in an area with so many different grocery stores within a 15-20 minute drive...Woodmans (which just opened 2 miles down the street and is massive!), Meijer, Aldi, Walmart, Jewel, Trader Joe's and Costco...and then within 25-30 minutes, we also have a Fresh Thyme, Mariano's, and Whole Foods. <br /><br />I like Aldi, but honestly, I don't shop there often because of limited items. I always have to end up going across the street to Meijer to get what Aldi doesn't have. So I only go to Aldi when I need to stock up on certain things that are cheaper than other stores, such as organic olive oil. And the only meat I buy at Aldi is organic ground beef. Otherwise, I buy my chicken either at a local farm (grass fed, organic) or the organic frozen chicken breasts at Costco. Maybe in the near future, Aldi will start selling organic chicken. I know they've really improved with expanding their organic selection of grocery items.<br /><br />I do need to look in my basement freezer and use up what we have down there - thanks for the reminder!Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08659968511488397366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-19655266295033471532019-11-13T18:02:39.910-05:002019-11-13T18:02:39.910-05:00PS....goodness gracious, that's alot of wood!!...PS....goodness gracious, that's alot of wood!! LOLBeachGypsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02200510017404641217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-39734197684040363182019-11-13T18:01:37.529-05:002019-11-13T18:01:37.529-05:00This is always one of my favorite posts of yours.....This is always one of my favorite posts of yours....when you finish up the harvest and have all that beautiful colorful bounty laying out on the counter!! I love that picture of the herbs in the glasses on the window sill....you should crop that and enlarge it, frame it, and hang it up to enjoy on a cold frosty winter's day to remind yourself of the growing season! all the food pictures look delicious too. You do deserve a rest, its that time of year. However, by March or so, I know you will be eager to get those seeds planted and going!!--even if it's inside and under the lights. LOL Love the post, thanks for sharing with us. And STAY WARM my friend!!!! Fireplaces and blankets, fireplaces and blankets......are your friends. LOLBeachGypsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02200510017404641217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-15091100975297729042019-11-13T14:03:10.081-05:002019-11-13T14:03:10.081-05:00It pains me to throw away food, Cindy! You can goo...It pains me to throw away food, Cindy! You can google Ina Garten's Perfect Roast Chicken and find the recipe online....it's absolutely foolproof! However, I do use a meat thermometer to check the internal temp to make sure it's cooked thoroughly, that's the only difference. And I don't always have fennel in house, so I often leave that out!Debbie - MountainMamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679232688811134752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-38473681056779222702019-11-13T13:47:38.947-05:002019-11-13T13:47:38.947-05:00Hi Debbie
I'm going to get Ina's recipe....Hi Debbie <br /><br />I'm going to get Ina's recipe. We live roast chicken. You had a wonderful harvest this year. I d6like to throw food away either. Luckily for us what gets thrown away is condiments which I don't keep around anymore. <br /><br />Enjoy the fruits if your labor <br /><br />Cindy cloches and lavenderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15364674775069599236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-55823192926482361642019-11-13T13:24:35.132-05:002019-11-13T13:24:35.132-05:00My colleague was trying to talk me into that, and ...My colleague was trying to talk me into that, and another person tried to get me to join him in his event planning business, but I like the security of a regular weekly paycheck. I think I'd be more stressed if I was worrying about bookings on my own....remember, it's just me to pay all my bills. And I do love my job, it's just sooooo busy....which is also a good thing, it means job security!Debbie - MountainMamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679232688811134752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737531804022285705.post-17463958174637351102019-11-13T13:22:54.763-05:002019-11-13T13:22:54.763-05:00Same here, Kris - January temps in November! It wa...Same here, Kris - January temps in November! It was 12 when I woke this morning but the 'real feel' was negative 5!! I did NOT want to crawl out of my cozy bed! The pups are good, they don't love going out to do their business in this weather but at least they are back in quickly, to get their cookie and lay in front of the fire!Debbie - MountainMamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679232688811134752noreply@blogger.com